Fountain marking pencil or pen



T. G. SUTHERLAND FOUNTAIN MARKING PENCIL OR PEN Dec. 1

Filed Aug. 20. 1.924

- EI 770/2205 6' 6117/26/44 11d Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES THOMAS G. SUTHERLAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOUNTAIN MARKING PENCIL OR PEN.

Application filed August 20, 1924. Serial No. 733,069.

1 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that T. 'lnmus G. SUTHER- limo. a citizen of the United States, and a.

resident of the city of (.hicago, in the county of (ook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Fountain Marking Pencil or Pen; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in marking devices and more particularly to such devices as are used in addressing boxes and the like for shipment.

Heretofore addresses and other important matter have been applied to boxes and the like with a crayon or a brush. The crayon does not make a mark which is absolutely reliable as the latter does not sink into the wood to form a permanent mark and may easily be obliterated. The brush has been resorted to to overcome the foregoing objections to the crayon, but the brush itself is objectionable because it retards the work, necessitating constant replenishing and care.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a marking device which can be used with the facility and speed of the crayon and will still make a reliable mark without having the disadvantages of the paint brush.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide a device of this kind where a liquid ink is caused to flow from a reservoir over a ball and thence to the article to be marked.

It is a further important object of this invention to rovide in a deviceof this kind a means for distributing the ink over the surface of the ball.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide a means for adjusting the flow of ink ormarking fluid from the device.

Other'and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings;

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the device assembled when not in use.-

Figure 2 is a vertical section in elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is a cross section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4: is a vertical section of the lower end of the device.

Figure 5 is a cross section along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

As shown on the drawings:

The apertured member 1 is threaded without to receive the reservoir 2 above and the cover 3 below. The reservoir is threaded at .the top to receive the vented cap 4, which may be of any suitable type.

The m e1 'nber 1 is threaded within the upper portion of its aperture to receive the adjusting nut 5 which bears down on the spring 6, the distributor or bearing member 7 and the ball 8. The nut 5 is slotted to enable a tool to be applied for adjusting it. The nut 5 and the member 7 are apertured to afford a passage for the flow of the marking fluid from the reservoir to the ball 8. The member 7 is recessed as at 9 to receive the upper portion of the ball 8. The recess 9 is formed so as to leave a small space between the surface of the recess and the surface of the ball except at the edges of the recess where it contacts with the surface of the ball.

The above is accomplished preferably by forming the surface of recess 9 of a slightly smaller radius than the radius of the ball 8. The edges of the recess 9 are slotted as at slots 10 to enable sufiicient ink to escape to form a film over the ball. The member 1 is flanged over at its lower extremity to retain the ball 8 and the members 6 and 7.

The operation is as follows:

The device is handled in writing in a manner similar to that employed with an ordinary fountain pen. As the ball 8 comes in contact with the surface of the box or the like the former is caused to revolve and in its revolution its surface passes through the recess 9. The latter being filled with ink from the reservoir 2, the ink is carried out through the slots 10, forming a film over the surface of the ball upon the further revolution of the latter. The ink then flows from the surface of the ball to the surface to be marked. By adjusting the nut 5, a greater or less pressure of the'spring 6 upon the member 7 and ball 8 is obtained. This varice the thickness of the film of ink on the surface of the ball and consequently varies the flow of ink.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide ran e without departing from the principles of t is 1n v ention, and I therefore do not pur ose limltmg the patent ranted hereon, 0t ierwise than necessitated y the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A marking device of the class described comprising a reservoir, a ball member, means comprising a spring pressed member having a recess, and an aperture therethrough communicating with said recess, said recessed member having slots and contacting with the surface of said ball be tween said slots at the edge of saidrecess for distributing'the marking fluid over said ball.

2. A marking device of the class described comprising a reservoir, a ball member, means for distributing the marking fluid over said member, said means comprising an apertured member for movably supporting said ball, said apertured member being threaded within to recelve an apertured nut,

a spring beneath said nut, an apertured distributor member movable in said apertured member engaged by said spring and adapted to partially enclose said ball member.

3. A marking device of the class described comprising a reservoir, a ball member, means for distributing the marking fluid over said member, said means comprising an. apertured member for movably supporting said ball, a spring mounted in said apertured member, and a distributor member movably supported in said apertured member and having a recess to partially receive said ball, said distributor member being apertured to admit said fluid to said recess.

4. A marking device of the class described comprising a reservoir, a ball member, means comprisinga s ring pressed member having a recess, an an aperture therethrough communicating with said recess,

said recessed member having slots and contacting with the surface of said ball between said slots at the ed e of said recess for distributing the marking fluid over said ball,

and means for adjusting the compression on said spring pressed member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscrlbed my name.

THOS. G. SUTHERLAND. 

